The Jealousy Card:

By Stirling Twilight and Amazoness Duo
stirling_9@hotmail.com
amazonessduo@hotmail.com

     Sakura took a deep breath of fresh air as she started 
rollerblading down the street. It was a beautiful day, and the sun 
was shining brightly. A soft breeze gently blew over her as she 
made her way to school. She blushed lightly at the thought of 
Yukito waiting where he usually did before school. Sighing, she 
felt a pang of sadness at the thought of who he was waiting for. 
She slowed down, finally coming to a stop, as her brother rode by 
on his bike.  As long as he was happy, right? Tomoyo had once 
told her that what really mattered was that the one you loved was 
happy, even if they weren’t with you. 
     Waiting a few moments to make sure her brother and Yukito 
were well on their way, Sakura started rollerblading again, a little 
slower this time. She was glad Yukito had found love, but would 
she ever find it herself? She had thought she loved the older boy, 
but after her talk with him, she wasn't so sure anymore. He had 
told her that her feelings for him were like the ones she had for her 
father. Oddly enough, besides short bouts of sadness over him, she 
seemed to be doing pretty well. Maybe she was just being mature 
about it. But could there be something else to it? Could it be that 
maybe she was falling for someone else? Thinking for a moment, 
Sakura tried to figure who such a person could possibly be, but 
ended up dismissing the idea. She was happy for Yukito, Sakura 
decided, and that was all.
     Her spirits noticeably higher, Sakura flashed a smile at the dark-
haired girl waiting for her at the front gate of their school. "Hi, 
Tomoyo-chan!" she said, skidding to a stop in front of her best 
friend.
     "Ohayo gozaimasu, Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said happily. "How 
did you sleep last night?"
     "Pretty well.  I had a strange dream, but I can't remember it 
now. You were in it. And Li-kun.  And I was worried about you 
for some reason," Sakura trailed off, trying to remember more of 
her dream.
     "I'm very glad I was in your dreams, Sakura-chan, but don't be 
worried about me," Tomoyo said thoughtfully. "It was just a 
dream. And, in any case, worrying about it won't do any good. You 
should try to relax."
     "You're right," Sakura agreed. "I wish I could remember the rest 
of it, though. I feel like I’ve forgotten an important warning about 
something. Like it was a premonition." She pulled off her 
rollerblades along with the rest of her protective gear. Standing 
back up, she walked side by side with Tomoyo towards their 
classroom.
     "If your dream was a warning about something, I'm certain that 
you will eventually figure it out," Tomoyo said with a reassuring 
smile.
     Sakura found herself smiling back. 'I always do feel better after 
talking to Tomoyo,' she thought to herself. "Thank you, Tomoyo-
chan."
     "Whenever you want to talk, Sakura-chan, I’m always here for 
you. I love talking to you, and if it helps you, I'm happy." Tomoyo 
took her seat next to Sakura's and started pulling out what she 
would need for class from her backpack.
     Sitting down in her desk, Sakura grinned to herself. She felt a 
lot better about things now.  She wasn't worrying about her dream 
or her sadness over Yukito for the moment. Looking through the 
window, she watched the late students getting to school. She 
closed her eyes, basking in the warm sunlight as she waited for 
class to begin. This day could be a good one after all.

     "How does this look?" Tomoyo asked tentatively as she handed 
Sakura a sheet of paper from her notebook. Sakura carefully took 
the paper, finishing up another bite of her lunch at the same time. 
She sweatdropped when she saw the sketch of herself in a costume. 
There were several different views to show the whole costume, 
including the large bow in back.  "What do you think?"
     "It's... nice," Sakura said, not quite knowing what else to say.
     "I think it would look really cute on you, Sakura-chan." 
Tomoyo grew starry eyed as she blushed at she thought of Sakura 
in the finished costume. "Do you think it could use more lace?"
     "No, no, I think it's fine the way it is," Sakura said hastily. Her 
troubles with wild Clow Cards had ended when she became the 
Card Mistress, and now with things settling down after Eriol, there 
really wasn't much of a need for her to go out as a Card Captor
anymore. But Tomoyo still made plenty of costumes for her, 
getting Sakura to come over to her house and try them on so the 
dark-haired girl could at least videotape her in them. She was 
happy to humor the dark haired girl, even if it was a bit strange 
wearing all the different costumes. Tomoyo seemed to love 
videotaping her in them so much that it was the least she could do 
for all the help and friendship the dark haired girl had given her.
     "Every time I finish a new costume, when I look at it, I get the 
feeling that something isn't right. It doesn't seem really finished. 
But when I finally see you wearing it, Sakura-chan, it's like the last 
piece of a puzzle has fallen into place. You complete them."
You complete me, Tomoyo wanted to add.
     Sakura blushed as Tomoyo smiled gently at her. For a second, it 
felt like she and Tomoyo were the only ones there. The feeling 
slowly faded and Sakura noticed all her classmates busily chatting 
through lunch. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or saddened that 
the moment had ended so quickly.
     "I'll start working on this one when I get home," Tomoyo 
finished. Her head tilted to the side, a worried look spreading over 
her face. "Sakura-chan, are you alright?"
     "Hai… I'm fine," Sakura said, laughing nervously. For some 
reason, she felt awkward all of a sudden. Glancing around a bit 
while she ate some more of her lunch, she noticed Syaoran walking 
by, on his own as he often was. "Li-kun! Why don't you have lunch 
with us?" she asked happily. Syaoran paused for a moment before 
accepting, sitting beside the two girls.
     "I really hope we don't have much homework tonight," Sakura 
said conversationally. "It's my night to make dinner."
     "I hope so, too. If you need to pick up ingredients or anything, I 
could come with you before you go home," Tomoyo offered 
helpfully.
     Sakura smiled at her. "Thanks, Tomoyo-chan. I don't think I 
need anything, though." She placed a hand on her chin, trying to 
make sure.
     "Sakura..." Syaoran interrupted.
     "Hoe?" Sakura turned to Syaoran who was now staring straight 
ahead. Tomoyo turned to look at him as well, putting aside the 
sketches.
     "There's something I want to tell you," Syaoran said slowly.  He 
was really nervous, even though he'd probably never admit it to 
himself.
     "What is it?" Sakura asked curiously. Tomoyo smiled at him, 
knowing what it was that he wanted to say. She nodded slightly, as 
if urging him to go on.
     "I... I..."
     "Syaoran-kun, are you feeling okay?" Sakura asked worriedly.
     "It's about Sakura-chan, right, Li-kun?" Tomoyo suggested 
gently, trying to help him along.
     Syaoran nodded emphatically.  Sakura looked more and more 
interested as she waited to hear what he had to say. 
Syaoran rounded on Tomoyo and asked her pointedly, 
“Can you go?”  He wanted to be alone with Sakura if he was going 
to tell her. 
	The dark haired girl smiled and nodded. Picking up her 
notebook, she walked over to a nearby tree. She felt almost as 
nervous inside as the Chinese boy. This was it. He would finally 
tell Sakura, wouldn’t he? Maybe it was about time she did as 
well…
     Syaoran watched her go before turning back, to meet the green 
eyes that were watching him in confusion.  He gathered his breath 
and in one long exhale managed to force out, "I... I... I like you!" 
     Sakura blinked in confusion several times. "You what?"
     Syaoran stood up, made an obvious effort to composes himself, 
lost the battle and made a hasty retreat back towards the classroom. 
He nearly bumped into Naoko in his hurry.
     "What did he mean?" Sakura asked aloud. She just couldn't 
figure out what on earth Syaoran was trying to do, telling her that 
he liked her and then running away.
Tomoyo leaned towards her, having returned unnoticed.
     "I think Li-kun was trying to say that he loves you," Tomoyo 
explained in a soft whisper.
     Sakura's face turned a deep shade of crimson as realization hit. 
She opened her mouth and tried to speak, but nothing came out. 
After a few false starts she finally got out, "But... but... how?"
     Tomoyo smiled brightly at her friend. "That's not hard, Sakura-
chan. It's easy to fall in love with you. It's telling you that’s the 
hard part."  Standing up as the bell rang for the end of lunch, 
Tomoyo offered Sakura her hand. Sakura, still in shock, let the 
other girl help her stand. She tried to walk, but stumbled a bit. 
Tomoyo arms went gently around her waist, steadying the 
brunette. Smiling gently, she helped her back towards the 
classroom, not letting her own inner turmoil show.

     It was a bit colder after school, but the weather was still 
pleasant. A gentle breeze meandered past the two girls on their 
way home. Sakura was still having trouble coming to grips with 
what had happened earlier with Syaoran. She was so worried, she 
wasn't really aware of where they were going. Tomoyo was 
silently leading her home, trying to give her best friend time to 
think.  Though it was still early in the evening, Sakura felt
tired, exhausted. She just wanted to lie down so that she wouldn't 
have to think about anything. Questions kept racing through her 
mind. How could he? Was he serious?
What should she do now?
     Sakura, walking slowly, noticed all of a sudden that Tomoyo 
wasn't at her side anymore. She turned around and saw the other 
girl standing there, her long, dark hair
fluttering behind her. Sakura looked at her with surprise.  Her 
friend seemed deep in thought.
     "Tomoyo-chan?"
     Tomoyo looked at her, but didn't answer right away.  Sakura 
felt a pang of nervousness. It was such an unusual attitude in her 
friend...
     "Sakura-chan," Tomoyo said at last, startling Sakura a little, "do 
you remember when I said that I loved you?"
     That was an easy one, Sakura thought. Tomoyo had told her 
that many, many times. "Un!" she nodded.
     "You looked happy, Sakura-chan, and you said that you loved 
me too. And I said: 'But Sakura-chan doesn't mean the same thing 
as me.' Do you remember?"
     Again, Sakura nodded. 
 "After that, I told you that I'd explain everything later. Isn't that 
right?"
     Sakura's eyes lit up with remembrance. "Oh yes, I remember! I 
wondered so much about that, I couldn't figure what in the world 
you were talking about."
     Tomoyo smiled gently. "Well, I think I will tell you now, 
Sakura-chan," she said. "Truth is, I'm a little nervous about this. I 
don't know if the time is right, I'm not sure you will understand." 
She paused for a moment, and then added softly, "But I'm going to 
give it a try anyway."
     Sakura looked at Tomoyo intently.  She felt very excited all of a 
sudden. The dark-haired girl sounded so serious it was a bit scary, 
but an overwhelming curiosity gnawed at her.  After all, she 
thought, this was Tomoyo.  Whatever she had to say, it couldn't be 
anything bad, could it?
     "What is it? Please, Tomoyo-chan, tell me!" Sakura begged, her 
face bright with eagerness.
     Tomoyo took a deep breath and slowly released it. She gazed 
deeply into Sakura's beautiful green eyes. "Sakura-chan, we've 
been very close for a long time now, and I want you to know that 
you've always been the most important thing in the world to me."
     Sakura smiled happily at her. "You are a very important friend 
to me too, Tomoyo-chan." She let out a sigh. She was glad it 
hadn’t been anything big. She’d had enough surprises for one day.
     Tomoyo sweatdropped and decided to try a different approach. 
     "Whatever I do, wherever I go, I'm always thinking about you, 
Sakura-chan. It's like..." she was having trouble finding the right 
words. "You make me think of an angel, Sakura-chan. You are like 
a heavenly angel sent down to this earthly realm to fill the lives of 
humans with light. I feel like I would never be able to repay you 
for the joy you've brought into mine.  That's the way I feel, in my 
heart, when I think about you."
     Sakura felt a rosy blush spread all over her cheeks.  She 
lowered her gaze, forced out a shaky little laugh and rubbed the 
back of her head. "I... I... Oh, Tomoyo-chan, it's nothing like that! I 
mean, I'm not an angel. I'm not heavenly or anything. I'm just..."  
Sakura paused briefly, as if gathering her thoughts, then looked 
back up and smiled at her friend, a genuine smile this time. "You 
say the nicest things, Tomoyo-chan. I feel all warm and mushy 
inside when you say that kind of thing, even though I'm not the 
way you say. Thank you so much! You're my best friend in the 
whole wide world, and I'm really, really glad that you're happy 
when I'm around."
     Tomoyo sighed softly. This was sooo much harder than she 
thought it would be. Part of her just wanted to stop, put on her 
trademark happy smile and tell Sakura that they were late and that 
they should be hurrying. She knew Sakura would then dismiss 
everything Tomoyo had just said as "some more of Tomoyo's 
weird stuff", and things
between them would return to normal. It would be so easy, she 
thought, backing off and leaving love confessions for another day. 
But she couldn't do that, not this time.
Not when she had already come this far.
     "Sakura-chan," she started again, trying to find stronger words 
to express the feelings in her heart, "I'm always happiest when 
we’re spending time together. And whenever I'm unhappy, all I 
have to do is think about you to feel better. When I see you 
wearing one of the dresses I make for you, my heart feels like it's 
going to pound out of my chest in joy. Being with you, doing 
things with you is my idea of heaven. You mean so much to me. I 
can't bear the thought of not being able to see you. I want to be 
with you, always, forever."
     Sakura blushed again, redder this time. Tomoyo was always 
saying strange things around her, and she knew she should be used 
to it by now, but this... this was like all of them rolled into one. She 
wasn't sure what to say, or if she should just wait for her friend to 
continue.
     Tomoyo was blushing a little, too. She had said so much, and 
yet, she could tell, just by looking at Sakura, that she still hadn't 
gotten her point across. "I know you were surprised, today, when 
you found out about Li-kun's love for you, but I understand his 
feelings all too well.  Since the day I met you, you have been like 
the sun in my life, outshining everything else. Sakura-chan, cards 
aren't the only magic you have at your command.  I've been under 
your spell for a long time."
     Sakura didn't realize she'd been holding her breath until her 
lungs started to ache for air. She was blushing as red as a peony 
now, and she was starting to find it difficult to stand still. She felt 
weak in the knees from the nervousness building up inside her.
     "Sakura-chan, daisuki desu wa," Tomoyo declared with earnest 
feeling, and then, before her innocent cousin could once again 
misunderstand those three simple words,
she continued, "And I don't mean just as a friend. I love you so 
much more than that. Sakura-chan, I'm in love. I'm in love with 
you, I love you. Do you understand what I'm
trying to say?"  Tomoyo took Sakura's hands in her own and gazed 
again into those dazzling emerald green eyes.  "I love you," she 
repeated softly, her own stormy blue eyes trying to convey every 
bit of the feelings inside of her.
     "To... To... Tomoyo-chan..."  Sakura barely managed to get out. 
Her heart was thudding a mad tempo in her chest, and she was sure 
her eyes looked like saucers. The shock of Syaoran's confession 
felt like nothing compared to what she was feeling at this moment.  
She had thought that, after Syaoran, nothing in the world could 
surprise her anymore. Oh god, had she been wrong!  She knew that 
she had to say something, she could tell the other girl was waiting 
for her to say something, but her mind had gone completely blank. 
First Syaoran and now Tomoyo? It was too much for her. She felt 
like her whole world had been turned upside down.
     "Tomoyo-chan,” she stammered, “I... I... I'll talk to you later," 
Sakura finished, a little lamely. Turning around too quickly, she 
almost stumbled. Tomoyo's hand on her shoulder barely helped her 
regain her balance in time.
     Waving to Sakura while the brown-haired girl hurried off, 
Tomoyo called, "Bye, Sakura-chan! Sleep well!"
     Glancing over her shoulder, Sakura caught a glimpse of 
Tomoyo's smiling face. She managed a faint smile of her own and 
waved back weakly before turning back around.
Her mind felt sluggish as she tried to sort things out.
     What was she supposed to do? Nothing in her life seemed to 
make sense anymore. Breaking into a fast sprint after turning a 
corner, Sakura ran all the way back home, totally unaware of the 
fading glow that followed her.

     “Oh, so the monster’s home,” Touya said conversationally as 
her heard Sakura come
in through the front door. He put down the job ads he’d been 
reading, ready to see his
sister’s angry face.  He was shocked to see her disappearing up the 
stairs.  “Sakura?” The
small glimpse of her hadn’t offered much of an explanation as to 
why she hadn’t argued
with him, but she had looked rather distraught. Worse than he’d 
seen her in a long, long
time. The house was silent again, except for the rustling of the 
newspaper on his lap.
“Well, she’s heading into high school now.  She’s probably just 
getting overemotional about 
something,” he told himself, not quite believing it. Telling himself 
not to worry, he went
back to looking for another job, but he kept glancing up towards 
her room, wondering
what was really wrong.



"Kero-chan?" 
"Hmm?" 
Sakura shifted her arms on the open window ledge trying to get 
comfortable. She could see the moon behind the leaves and the 
Jade Plate swam for a moment in the wetness that suddenly 
appeared in her eyes. 
"Kero-chan...." 
Kero-chan clicked his tongue and glided to her side. 
"Sakura" he chided, "You haven’t finished a sentence yet 
tonight.  What's happened?" 
She sighed and pressed her eyes against her pajama sleeve. 
"Kero-chan, I had a dream last night." 
"Ah", the Seal Beast breathed in pleasure.  Sakura's dreams 
always carried a great deal of portent.  He drifted to where he 
could look at her. "What did you dream?" 
"I dreamt that Tomoyo-chan and Li-kun were in danger, and it 
was because of me."  She paused, breathing hard, and then the dam 
broke.  "I was so upset, and all through the dream I kept talking 
and nothing was coming out of my mouth. I wanted to tell them 
today at school, but I didn't know how, and I thought that maybe I 
would find a way, but every time I tried the time was wrong, and 
then Li-kun wanted to talk to me alone, and then Tomoyo-chan 
said..." 
"Clow Card!" Kero-chan yelled spinning towards the open 
window.  "Hurry!" 
“Card?” she stammered in surprise.  Obviously this was the day 
for it, and how very like her dream it all seemed… her talking and 
no one was hearing her.  With a sigh she gathered a few things and 
climbed out onto the tree.  It occurred to her as she descended that 
she should call Li and Tomoyo, but she also felt that being alone 
would be nice too.  At least with a Card to capture she wasn't just 
sitting and thinking. How long had it been since she’d been out 
Card Capting anyway?
Once out of sight of her house Sakura drew out the Key and 
joined Kero-chan in the air.  He flew purposefully, as if he knew 
where he was going.  Sakura saw, in her mind's eye, the many 
videos Tomoyo had taken of the Seal Beast.  Smiling at the 
thought she was suddenly very sorry she didn't call the dark hair 
girl.  Tomoyo would forgive her, there was no question, but at the 
same time Sakura also knew that no matter what her mood, 
Tomoyo would never exclude Sakura from something that would 
give her pleasure.  Before she realized what was happening the 
phone was in her hand, and the redial pressed.  But what to tell 
her?  Sakura had no idea where they were going. 
"Look!" Kero-chan cried, stabbing a paw downwards.  Sakura, 
phone to her head, looked down, and saw Li running in the same 
direction they were flying in, his glowing Lasin Board held before 
him. 
"Sakura-chan?" 
Momentarily disoriented Sakura realized the voice was 
Tomoyo's and the source was the phone.  "Tomoyo-chan!" she 
yelled over the wind, "We're near the clock tower, after a Card...." 
"I'm on my way," and she was gone. 
Sakura tucked the phone back into her pocket and drew closer to 
Kero-chan. "What should we do?" she mused aloud. 
Kero-chan turned towards her, smiling broadly, "Card Capture 
Sakura..." 
And he was gone. 
Sakura suddenly found herself standing in a room. The Key was 
in her hand. The room, a sort of box,  had no door, no windows 
and the walls were a sickly green.  Across from her Li stood, 
looking equally as surprised and Kero-chan was nowhere to be 
seen. 
"Li-kun?" she began, but no sound reached her ears.  He too 
opened his mouth, but she heard nothing.  Stepping back she 
pulled out the Sword Card, exchanged the Key for the Sword and 
swiped at the nearest wall.  It had no effect. Li also began trying 
attacks on the room, with the same effect. She moved closer to 
him, her hand reaching for him, and just as she touched his arm her 
hand went threw his as if he were a ghost.  Alarmed she drew 
back...he didn't seem to be aware of her.  He suddenly turned and 
appeared to be smiling at someone behind her.  Sakura looked back 
and saw Tomoyo, video camera in hand, looking at Li with a look 
that sent a chill through Sakura.   Rushing to her side Sakura was 
almost weak with relief.  She called Tomoyo's name, heard 
nothing, and stopped short.  Slowly she extended a hand… it 
passed threw Tomoyo without any resistance. Tomoyo and Li 
crossed the small room, intent it seemed, only on each other.  
Sakura drew back in confusion as the two came together in a 
passionate kiss. 
Nothing more than shock made Sakura sit down heavily.  Sword 
slipped silently from her fingers.  What did this mean?  What was 
happening? Her mind reeled at the sight.  Closing her eyes for a 
moment, hoping it was a dream, she opened them again.  In the 
center of the room stood Tomoyo and Yukito, kissing. 
"This is a dream," she screamed soundlessly, desperately, 
"Tomoyo-chan loves me and only me, she told me so!  Only me!  
None of this is real!" 
Raising her head once more she found herself confronted by Li, 
sword in hand, and Tomoyo clinging to his side.  Li was looking at 
her with unhidden hatred.  He raised the sword, and Sakura had 
just enough time to exchange the Sword for Shield as he swung at 
her.  The sword rebounded, sending a shock through his arm.  He 
staggered back, disbelief evident on his face. 
"Why?!" Sakura screamed mentally, her mouth forming the 
word.  Drawing herself up to her knees she studied Li.  He was 
panting, and still looked angry, but he didn't continue to fight.  
Could it be that he knew he was fighting a Card?  That had to be 
the answer. They were trapped within an uncaptured Card, and she 
had to figure out what the Card was. 
Suddenly the pieces were fitting.  She was seeing something 
that would make her… what?  Angry?  Jealous?  They must be 
experiencing something similar.  Li would see… 
Sakura sucked in her breath.  Li would see Sakura and Tomoyo!  
No wonder he turned on her!  But no, why fight Sakura, unless 
Sakura looked like Tomoyo to him.  That would explain his 
surprised look at being rebuffed by Shield.  Sakura acted quickly, 
bringing out Mirror, "Show me what Li-kun is seeing" she 
commanded.  In the disc Mirror held Sakura saw exactly what she 
expected.  In the place where she knelt on the floor cowered 
Tomoyo; a Sakura, assumably Tomoyo, was being crushed to Li’s 
side by his arm around her waist, and she looking horrified, weakly 
fighting to reach the figure on the floor. 
She locked eyes with Mirror and felt the color drain from 
her face, "Show me what Tomoyo-chan sees," she mouthed.  A 
chill went through her at the thought of what she was about to see. 
The first thing she saw was herself. She was smiling 
happily, seemingly without a care in the world. Two arms were 
around her waist, holding her tight. They belonged to Syaoran, 
who was uncharacteristically grinning. Lying on the floor in shreds 
was one of Tomoyo’s costumes for Sakura. Sakura instantly 
remembered it as the design Tomoyo had shown her earlier that 
day. Syaoran pulled up an ofuda, chanting briefly before throwing 
it on the tattered costume. Sakura’s counterpart in the Mirror just 
laughed as the costume burned, snuggling closer to Syaoran. She 
stopped watching when the images kissed. 
   Tears ran down Tomoyo’s pale cheeks as she looked on 
helplessly.   A steel band crushed Sakura heart at the sight and she 
lashed out at Mirror, blinded by tears of rage and sorrow.  "No!" 
she screamed over and over, "It's not like that."  She rose to her 
feet, picked up Sword and continued to rampage about the little 
green room.  Li and Tomoyo ignored her and again embraced as if 
nothing had happened.  Sakura stopped at the sight, and a sob 
escaped her. 
   "Tomoyo-chan…" 
     As if she had heard her name the ghost Tomoyo turned her head 
and smiled at Sakura, Li too smiled at her, but then the couple 
locked eyes again and kissed.  Sakura decided that this had gone 
on long enough.  She pulled out Darkness.  If they couldn't see 
each other the spell just might be broken. 
   "Surround Li-kun, Tomoyo-chan and myself in a darkness that 
we cannot see through." 
Instantly the room was gone and she stood alone in a vast night.  
Hesitantly she tested to see if the Card was still working. 
   "Tomoyo-chan?" she said, and heard nothing.  It was still 
working.  Obviously she had to name this Card to overpower it, 
like she had had to do with Mirror.  Drawing herself upright she 
closed her eyes and yelled with all her might, "Jealousy!" and the 
sound broke on her deafened ears like a storm.  Suddenly the green 
room broke like glass into a million tiny pieces.  Before she could 
do anything they gathered to her right, and were gone.  She quickly 
recalled Darkness and found herself on the street below the clock 
tower facing both Li and Tomoyo, who were looking around 
dazed.  Li seemed to come back to himself first and turned to 
Sakura with a look of raw hatred.  Sakura, shocked, took a step 
back in alarm.  Li looked from her to Tomoyo, and Sakura 
instantly knew she had to act, and quickly. 
   Sakura was fast, but Li was faster. 
   Li drew out an ofuda and threw it at Sakura even as she invoked 
Shield.  The glowing paper landed on her arm and she couldn't 
move.  Li grabbed Tomoyo roughly by the arm and began dragging 
her away. 
   Tomoyo looked back at Sakura, who was struggling against the 
spell.  "Sakura-chan!" she yelled helplessly. “Sakura-chan!”
   "Tomoyo-chan!" Sakura screamed back in anger and frustration.  
"TOMOYO-CHAN!"

   Syaoran landed on a rooftop far away from the immobilized 
Sakura. He shoved Tomoyo from him when they landed. She tried 
to keep her balance but fell to her hands and knees. “You…” he 
growled. “You’re what’s keeping me from her. You’re what’s 
standing in my way.  She and I are supposed to be together, but 
you keep getting in the way.”
   “No… That’s not it. I just want Sakura-chan to be happy.” 
Tomoyo looked up at the angry gaze he directed at her and shrank 
back. “I love her. I just hope she would be happy with me.”   She 
knew it was the wrong thing to say to the enraged boy even before 
she uttered it, but it was the truth. 
   “How could she ever be happy with you?” Syaoran sneered. 
“You just get in her way. She’s only your friend because she pities 
you.”
   Tomoyo shook her head. “No, she’s my best friend. We care 
about each other. We’ll always be friends…” Her mind raced. 
Nothing seemed certain to her anymore. The horrible images of 
Sakura and Syaoran came flooding back to her mind, threatening 
to overwhelm her. Syaoran’s hand grabbed her arm, hauling her 
back to her feet. The dark haired girl winced at the sudden 
explosion of pain the cruel movement brought. She flinched as he 
clutched her arm tightly.
	“I want you to leave her alone. To leave us alone. Do you 
understand?” Syaoran hissed angrily. He dragged the limp girl 
against his chest, shaking her hard.	Tomoyo, her dark hair flying 
wildly about her, closed her eyes tightly.  This only brought back 
earlier images. “No,” she said, trying to make him understand,  “I 
won’t leave unless Sakura tells me too. She means everything to 
me. I love her!” Looking at him defiantly, she tried desperately to 
bring up happier images of Sakura, ones she treasured and kept 
dear to her heart.
	Angrily, Syaoran shoved the dark haired girl backwards. 
Tomoyo gasped as she fell, landing hard on her side. “Don’t you 
dare stand in my way. She will be mine!” he howled.
	Keeping her eyes clamped shut, Tomoyo desperately ran 
memories over and over in her mind. When she first met Sakura, 
when Sakura had come to her house for the first time, when Sakura 
had first worn one of the costumes she made, the first time she’d 
videotaped Sakura with her camcorder. She waited quietly for what 
Syaoran would say next, but nothing came. Cautiously, she opened 
her eyes and looked around. “Sakura-chan!” she yelled, catching a 
glimpse of the brown haired girl. Forcing herself to her feet, she 
couldn’t help but smile as she ran to her friend. She stopped dead 
in her tracks, her eyes growing wide, when she saw Syaoran 
standing behind her. 
Tomoyo’s spirits sank as the two kissed.  Somewhere, in 
the back of her mind she could hear someone scream, “NO!”   She 
shut her eyes, wishing the vision would disappear, but it remained 
when she looked again.  She took a few slow steps towards them, 
her heart aching with each step. “Sakura-chan…. I’m… I’m happy 
for you,” she said quietly.  Sakura looked directly at her, giving her 
an icy stare that chilled Tomoyo to the bone. “Sakura-chan?” she 
asked weakly, “Why?”
	Sakura didn’t find her worthy of her notice as she bestowed 
all her attention on Syaoran. The two shared a deep kiss, ignoring 
the forlorn Tomoyo, as if she had simply ceased to exist. 
	Dropping to her already scratched knees, Tomoyo’s small 
body was wracked with sobs. “Sakura-chan….”, she whimpered, 
clutching her stomach.  She couldn’t bear it. Why was this 
happening?  Glancing back up, Tomoyo saw things had changed.  
Sakura was wearing a wedding dress and Syaoran a tuxedo.  A stab 
of pain shot through Tomoyo’s heart.  Sakura had promised her 
that she could make her wedding dress when they day finally 
came, but that wasn’t anything she’d make for Sakura.  Looking 
through her tear blurred vision, she could see her camcorder 
smashed on the floor near them, the film pulled out.  Blinking back 
her tears, Tomoyo could see things had shifted once again. Sakura 
now held a baby.  Sakura and Syaoran’s baby. 
	Unable to stand watching anymore, Tomoyo struggled to 
her feet.  She stumbled away from the scene, half delirious from 
the power of the Card and her visions.  “You don’t need me 
anymore, do you, Sakura-chan?” she asked the thin air.  Again, 
from somewhere, came the same scream of “No!”  Had she 
dreamed it?  Tomoyo felt numb all over.  Nothing seemed to 
matter anymore.  The person that mattered most didn’t care about 
her at all.  And she’d lost to Syaoran.  She felt… jealous of him.  
She wished she could be the one to make Sakura that happy.  She 
just prayed Sakura would always be happy as she stepped up on 
the ledge of the rooftop. “You don’t need me anymore, Sakura-
chan.  You don’t even want me as a friend.  But you’re happy.”  
She smiled sadly, blinded by her tears.  “I’m glad. I’m glad that 
Sakura-chan is happy.  Please stay that way, Sakura-chan.  I love 
you.  Forever.  Maybe I can be your guardian angel,” she added 
hopefully.  With that, Tomoyo stepped off the ledge into 
nothingness.  She kept her eyes shut tight as the ground raced to 
meet her.

	Syaoran watched, shocked by the sudden turn of events. 
He’d intended to make his point clear with Tomoyo, that she never 
get in his way with Sakura, but she had turned suddenly and started 
looking off at something only she could see. After talking to 
herself, the dark haired girl had thrown herself off the rooftop. The 
screams of the Seal Beast had surprised him, but Syaoran couldn’t 
locate the magical animal no matter where he looked.  He blinked 
several times, still confused, and unsure about what had just 
happened. “At least she won’t get in my way anymore,” he said to 
no one in particular.

	The world seemed to slow as a small dark haired girl 
plummeted through the air. Further and further she went, the brief 
amount of time slowing to a near stop for the girl as everything 
seemed to move in slow motion. “Sakura-chan...” she whispered, 
one last time, her eyes shut tight. Her heart felt as if it had been 
ripped out of her chest. Her whole world, her whole reason to live, 
had been crushed in the matter of minutes. She was looking 
forward to an end to her pain, to the end of her torment, to 
oblivion. And Sakura, her dear Sakura, would be happy. 
	A sudden impact shocked Tomoya back from her thoughts 
and her fall was suddenly interrupted as two arms wrapped around 
her tightly, fumbling desperately to hold on to her, gripping her 
like a pair of steel bars. “Tomoyo-chan!” a voice cried in terror, 
over and over in a hysterical pitch.  Her mind wondered what was 
happening, as the wind on her face gave her the impression of 
climbing upwards. The voice, close to her ear and frantically 
calling her name, was Sakura’s.  Tomoyo could feel her friend’s 
breathing coming in a labored pant as they raced skyward.
 Opening her eyes slowly, Tomoyo blinked several times in 
confusion. Wasn’t she supposed to be dead by now?  She took a 
second to glance around, and found herself in the arms of the Card 
Mistress, whose wings were working hard to finish the arc of 
Saukar’s dive.  Seconds later Saukar touched down on a rooftop, 
deposited Tomoyo on her feet and dropped to her hands and knees 
beside the dark haired girl.
 Maybe she was dead, Tomoyo thought.  Maybe this was 
heaven. “Sakura-chan?  Why?  Why did you save me, Sakura-
chan?” Tomoyo asked, her mind reeling.  “I did this for you.  
You’re happy.  That’s all I wanted.  You didn’t need me anymore.”
“No, Tomoyo-chan.”  Sakura heaved herself into a kneeling 
position, her hands clutching for the small girl.  She embraced her 
friend, crushing her to her chest, “I always need you,” she sobbed, 
“You’re my best friend. You mean so much to me. I don’t know 
what I’d do if you were gone.”  She blinked back the stinging tears 
in her eyes as she looked up at the dark haired girl.  Her body felt 
cold all over from the recent shock.
	“But, Sakura-chan, you… I would only get in the way.  
You aren’t even happy as friends anymore. You have what you 
want.  I hope you and Li-kun are very happy.” Tomoyo mustered a 
pained smile before turning away. 
	Sakura bolted to her feet and seizing her friend, shook her 
hard. “No! Tomoyo-chan, listen to me, it’s the Clow Card.  The 
Jealousy Card it’s still affecting you!  We’re best friends, nothing 
will ever change that. I know you want me to be happy, but losing 
you would definitely not make me happy. And I want you to be 
happy, too.”  The Card Mistress sighed, looking deeply into 
Tomoyo’s stormy blue eyes. “Tomoyo-chan, you have to fight this.  
Please?  For me?”
	Tomoyo held her head, confusion flooding her mind. 
Glancing towards the roof’s edge, to Sakura and back, she 
shuddered, unsure of herself.  Finally giving out a small cry, 
Tomoyo threw herself into Sakura’s arms. “Oh, Sakura-chan, I’m 
so sorry….” The dark haired girl sobbed. “I just… I thought you 
hated me… that you didn’t need me anymore… and that you were 
happy with, with…  him…”  Her sobs overwhelmed her and she 
feel silent, leaning heavily against Sakura. 
	“Tomoyo-chan, it’s going to be okay,” Sakura said 
soothingly, hugging the limp girl close to her. Tomoyo’s hot tears 
rolled onto her shoulder, soaking into the cloth of her pajamas. 
“It’s just the Card.  I could never hate you, Tomoyo-chan.  You 
know that.  You’re my very important person.”  For a second, 
Sakura wondered where she had heard that before, but she quickly 
shrugged it off, not having time to worry about it. “Please, 
Tomoyo-chan, don’t cry.  It’s alright now.”
	The dark haired girl took another shuddering breath before 
standing up on her own. “Thank you, Sakura-chan.”  A small, 
genuine smile formed on her soft lips. “I always knew you would 
come save me if anything happened.”
	Sakura smiled back, relief filling her soul. “Of course I 
would, Tomoyo-chan.  I’m not about to let you get hurt by 
something like this. Or anything, for that matter.  I don’t want to 
see you hurt, Tomoyo-chan.” 
	Before the Card Mistress could think to ask Tomoyo if she 
was ready to go home, a sword slashed the air between both girls. 
Tomoyo gasped and Sakura jumped back, her staff in hand. She 
got ready to get a Card out just in case. Between them stood 
Syaoran, hatred and jealousy flaring in his eyes. “Li-kun!? Fight it, 
Li-kun! It’s just the Jealousy Card affecting you.”
	“Fight what?” Syaoran spat angrily. “I saw the two of you. 
She’s trying to steal you from me. She’s trying to get in the way.  
To come between us!” Raising the sword, he swiped at a stunned 
Tomoyo. 
	Sakura lunged forward, her eyes wide with fear of what he 
might do. Her staff barely blocked his sword inches from the dark 
haired girl. “Li-kun, don’t do this!” she pleaded as Tomoyo sank to 
her knees.
	He leapt backwards, landing in a fighting stance. He held 
the sword straight up in front of him, his eyes falling closed as he 
began to chant. Energy surrounded the blade.
	Sakura barely had time to throw herself in the way of 
Tomoyo when she realized what he was doing. “Shield!” she 
yelled desperately as his attack came flying towards them. The 
burst of lightening dissipated against Shield, leaving the two girls 
unhurt. Sakura glanced at Tomoyo, assuring herself that her friend 
was unharmed when another attack hit…and another and another. 
“Li-kun! Leave her alone!” she screamed, “Don’t hurt her!!” 
Sakura wondered how his rage could be so focused on the dark 
haired girl behind her.  “She’s never been anything but kind to 
you!”
	Syaoran narrowed his eyes as he began chanting again. 
Sweeping the sword down, a burst of wind struck against Shield. 
“How could you know?” he demanded.  “She blinds you with her 
hero worship, but she keeps coming between us.  She’s why you 
don’t returned my feelings.” 
	‘That’s what this is all about isn’t it?’ Sakura asked herself 
as she braced herself for his next attack. ‘They both… They’re 
both in love with me.”  Then the realization struck her with the 
force of an express train.  It was Sakura herself that had created the 
problem, literally!  As Card Mistress her feelings and desire were 
made manifest in the form of Cards.  Somehow she had created the 
Jealousy Card without even thinking about it.  That’s how Jealousy 
got to them both so easily, and so strongly! ‘This is all my fault.’ 
“Stop this!” the Card Mistress yelled. 
Turning to face him as she rose, Sakura pulled out Windy 
and sent it spilling before her.  “Bind Li-kun!” she yelled, bringing 
the Key down on the Card.  The resulting rush of air quickly 
surrounded the startled boy, pinning his limbs tight against his 
body.  Sakura didn’t hesitate as she twirled the Key over head 
again, Windy almost drowning out her command “…Sakura 
Card!”  The Card Mistress brought the Wand down on the softly 
glowing green dot within the rushing wind.  The Jealously Card 
lifted out of Windy and floated to her waiting hand.
For a moment, the only sound that could be heard was the 
wind rustling past them.  Sakura recalled Windy and turned to face 
Syaoran, hoping the danger was now over.  Utter silence claimed 
the rooftop for a moment. Then the clatter of Syaoran’s sword 
against the roof broke the silence.  His mind started to clear from 
the haze of jealousy the Card had managed to place over him. 
“Sakura” he stammered, his faced blossoming to a brilliant 
crimson, “... I… I don’t know how I… I don’t know what to say… 
I’m… I’m sorry.”  He lowered his head.
Sakura let Shield fade away, but remained standing 
protectively in front of Tomoyo. “I’m not the one you intended to 
kill,” she said quietly.  A second silence descended, this one 
fraught with embarrassment.  Sakura looked at her friends and 
came to a decision.
 “Fine,” she said, almost to herself.  She was tired of 
fighting. Tomoyo and Syaoran looked back at her quizzically, 
wondering what she meant. “Fine. You both want to know who I 
love, don’t you?  Stop this, then.  I care too much about both of 
you to watch either of you get hurt.  The Jealousy Card was using 
both of you.  And it’s because of me, because of your feelings for 
me!  It’s still getting to you both because of me.  So I want to put 
an end to this.” Sakura took a deep breath before continuing. “I 
will make my decision tonight. I’ll tell you both tomorrow the one 
who I love.”
	Syaoran looked up at her, his face still scarlet, “Tomorrow 
you’ll….”
	Sakura nodded, cutting him off. “Hai. Tomorrow I’ll tell 
you both which one I’m in love with.”
	Bending down, Syaoran retrieved his sword from where it 
had landed. Without a word he turned and leapt into the darkness.
	As soon as he left, Sakura collapsed to her hands and 
knees. The battle, the Card, and her own nervousness about what 
had happened earlier that day had finally taken their toll.  She 
glanced over when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She saw 
Tomoyo’s concerned face looking back down at her. Before the 
dark haired girl could say anything, Sakura threw her arms around 
her friend with a tearful howl. “Tomoyo-chan! Oh God, I almost 
lost you so many times tonight. You had me so worried. I’m so 
sorry you got dragged into all this. If I hadn’t called you, none of 
this would have happened.” She gently rocked back and forth, 
cradling the dark haired girl against her. 
	Tomoyo sighed softly. She liked having the other girl so 
protective of her, but she hated seeing Sakura so worried about 
things. “Sakura-chan, I’m fine. It’s all over now.”
	Sakura scrubbed her face with a free hand, trying to dry the 
tears that continued to threaten.  She untangled her arms from her 
friend’s neck.  Using her wand to help her weary body stand 
upright, Sakura looked out at the dark night sky. “No. Not yet. I 
still have to find out who I…” She blushed at the thought. In her 
mind she could see the boy who had been her rival, but had turned 
out to be her greatest help with the Clow Cards. She could also see 
her best friend, the girl that had always been there for her. She let 
her head drop sadly. She had no idea how she’d make a decision 
by the next morning.
	“Sakura-chan,” Tomoyo said softly, her voice barely above 
a whisper. Sakura looked so fragile standing there. “Sakura-chan, 
please don’t worry too much about tomorrow. Just make the 
decision that will make you happy.”
	Sakura turned back to her skeptically. “And I won’t have to 
go rescuing you from jumping off buildings if it’s Li-kun?”
	Tomoyo shook her head. “You said we’ll always be 
friends, remember? That’s all I need.  It’s what makes me happy.”
	Smiling a little, Sakura felt her spirits lifting. “Thanks, 
Tomoyo-chan. We will always be friends,” she reconfirmed, “It 
makes me happy too.”
	“No matter who you choose tomorrow, I’ll always be there 
for you, Sakura-chan. And I’ll always love you.” 
	Sakura felt her cheeks burn as she blushed.  She was still 
nervous about the idea that her best friend could be in love with 
her.  But, putting that aside she invoked Fly, unfolded her wings 
and turned towards Tomoyo. “Are you ready to go home?”
	“Hai, Sakura-chan.” Tomoyo smiled. 
“I’m so tired, but I doubt I’ll be getting any sleep tonight.” 
Sakura sighed and lifted off into the sky. 

Once Sakura had left Tomoyo on the terrace outside her 
bedroom the Card Captor rose and allowed herself to drift.  Kero-
chan was still missing, but she had more on her mind than the Seal 
Beast, who was more than capable of taking care of himself.  With 
a soulful sigh she glanced down at the town, with its the clock 
tower silhouetted against the moon.   The clock proclaimed the 
hour to be 1 AM.  Morning already, Sakura realized with a sigh.
With a thought the Sakura Cards in her pocket floated into 
the air, forming a circle around her.  She felt their presence, their 
love for her, and she drew comfort from it.  It was a warm feeling.  
Like when she had her arms around Tomoyo-chan.  
She paused mentally.  
No, not like it.  It was different.  It lacked a sort of 
excitement.  There was more to the feeling of comfort she had 
when she had hugged her friend.  Sakura’s mind raced away, 
trying to put into words the feeling that was suddenly so very 
important.  But try as she might she could not find an expression 
for that feeling.  
With a thought her wings vanished and she began to fall.
“Float!” she cried over the wind, and didn’t wait for the 
Card to answer her command before she turned in the circle of 
Cards, looking for the one she wanted.
“Illusion!” she yelled, as the wand came down on the Card 
named.  “Show me my heart’s desire.”
Even as she said it she knew she was cheating, but her 
mind, exhausted from the earlier battle, and everything else, was 
becoming desperate.  She could fly around all night waiting for the 
lightening bolt that was Tomoyo-chan to strike her…
Sakura sat down hard, in midair, as the air left her body.  
She drew a deep breath, her eyes fighting to focus.  She sat stunned 
for a long moment, trying to mentally collect herself. Before her 
Illusion was beginning to take form, but she no longer cared to 
wait for the outcome.  Recalling the Cards she resumed her wings 
and flew as quickly as possible back the way she came.

Tomoyo stood right where Sakura had left her.  Her hands 
were pressed to her chest, and her eyes, watching the sky.  At first 
Sakura was unsure that her friend had seen her return, but as she 
alighted Tomoyo turned her face towards the Card Mistress.  She 
bore a look of serene peace that lifted some massive, unknown, 
weight off of Sakura’s shoulders.  Neither one spoke.  Sakura felt 
her wings fade and the weight of the charm around her neck.  
Silently she walked to her friend, who stood unmoving and 
watchful.  When they where within inches of each other Sakura 
stopped, and stood swaying for a moment.  Slowly she sank to her 
knees and slipped her arms around Tomoyo’s small waist.  
Tomoyo’s head fell back as she awaited the words that would 
transform her life.  Sakura, her head pressed against her friend’s 
hip, allowed her mind to express the feelings it couldn’t before. 
“It’s you,” she whispered.
Tomoyo’s eyes rolled closed, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
“It’s you,” Sakura repeated, no longer surprised.  “It will 
always be you, it has always s been you.”
Tomoyo’s fingers unlaced themselves and found a new 
home in Sakura’s hair.  At the contact Sakura looked up at her 
newly discovered lover.  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she wondered 
aloud.
Tomoyo lowered her head to face her friend.  She smiled 
through her tears, “You needed to learn for yourself,” was the 
whispered reply.
“Are you sorry it took me so long to realize?” 
A sad smile played on the dark haired girl’s lips, her voice 
was a mere sigh, “I was willing to wait a lifetime for you… 
Sakura.”

 Kero-chan stood in the air before Li.  They had both seen 
everything that happened, and now Kero-chan was ready to defend 
the lovers if the need arose.  Li watched them for several long 
minutes before he tore his eyes away to look at the Seal Beast.
“I’ve lost,” he whispered, “… everything.  The Cards, the 
girl I love… everything.”  
Kero-chan’s tail whipped menacingly, “And what are you 
going to do?”
Li frowned.  “Do you think I would attack them?” he 
asked, in a sort of shocked anger.
Kero-chan allowed his silence to speak for him.  Li turned 
his back on the scene and disappeared into the night.


The day dawned crystal clear and Sakura was out early.  It 
was her morning to clean the classroom, and she knew Tomoyo-
chan would be waiting for her.  
It had been a week since they had come together as a 
couple.  ‘One week, six hours and 15 minutes,’ Sakura thought as 
she pushed herself harder, racing the clock for extra seconds in the 
company of her friend.  More than friend, she corrected herself 
with a smile.  As she rollerbladed, she relived, for the thousandth 
time, the feeling of Tomoyo’s hands on her as the dark haired girl 
helped her to rise from her position of worship at her friend’s 
waist.  Felt, again, as Tomoyo’s hands gathered her own, and then 
drew her into the dark bedroom.  Sakura had wanted, so much, and 
had slept, so long! She blushed, even now, thinking of it.  Not a 
good opening for a lifetime together, she mused, but Tomoyo 
didn’t seem to mind.
As she came within sight of the school Sakura could make 
out the form of Tomoyo waiting for her near the gate.  She raised 
her hand and waved wildly, the joy in her heart becoming one 
thought, one word…
“Tomoyo-chan!”