The Past Returns

Whispers of Auras and Theatrical Memories

The scorching sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the school grounds. The first day of summer vacation was winding down, filled with the joyful sounds of students heading home. Sakura and Tomoyo, sweating from the relentless heat, decided to escape the scorching sun's rays and head straight to Sakura's house.

"Eriol's back in Tomoeda and he's attending your school?" Kero questioned, beads of sweat forming on his tiny brow as he sipped iced tea.

"Yeah, I didn't expect him to come back so suddenly and without any notice," Tomoyo remarked.; 

"Did he say why he was back?" Kero asked, his curiosity piqued.

"All he said was, 'an old friend,'" Tomoyo responded, a hint of puzzlement in her voice.

"An old friend?" Kero repeated, his tiny brows furrowing in confusion. "Did he say who it was?"

The girls exchanged uncertain glances, silently acknowledging that they were as in the dark as Kero.

Sakura shifted uneasily, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I'm sorry, Kero," she admitted, looking down with a hint of guilt. "I should've brought this up sooner. Yesterday, I sensed Clow Reed's aura for just a moment. I didn't get the chance to check it out."

"What! How could you forget to tell me?" Kero erupted, his exclamation almost as explosive as the tea he unintentionally spit out. Sakura, feeling like the worst Mistress in the world, hung her head in shame.

"Take it easy, Kero," Tomoyo interjected gently, her soothing voice cutting through the tension. "Sakura didn't mean to forget. She's got a lot on her plate right now—Li's departure, a sudden surge in her magic powers."

Kero sighed in defeat, shaking his head. "I guess you're right, Tomoyo. I have a theory as to why Sakura's magic has suddenly gone into overdrive, but I'll have to confirm it with Yue to clarify," he conceded, changing his tune after absorbing Tomoyo's reasoning. Sakura let out a breath, and Tomoyo thanked Kero for his understanding.

Tomoyo leaned in with a mischievous grin. "Now Sakura, I've been dying to ask. Please tell me about that kiss with Li! It looked intense!"

"The kiss?" Sakura squeaked, caught off guard 

"Yes, the kiss and don't leave anything out. I need to know all the details," Tomoyo pressed, her voice rising with excitement.

"I... er... wanted to give Syaoran my answer to his question before he left," Sakura stammered.

"So you told him that you wanted to be his girlfriend and he made the first move?" Tomoyo questioned, her curiosity working overtime to piece together the scene.

"Not exactly. I made the first move and kissed him," Sakura admitted, rubbing the back of her neck

"Oh my goodness, Sakura!" Tomoyo exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement anymore.

"Tomoyo, please, keep it down. I don't want my brother or father running in here," Sakura begged, casting a nervous glance towards the door.

"I can't believe you kissed Li. I was sure if there was going to be any kissing between you two, then I would have imagined Li taking the lead," Tomoyo confessed.

"What! You gave that kid your first kiss!" Kero shouted in disbelief.

"Kero! Shush!" Sakura retaliated, her eyes widening in panic. "If Touya finds out I kissed Syaoran, he'll end up six feet under, and I'll never hear the end of it," she explained, lowering her voice to a near whisper.

"Wait. Didn't you kiss Li in the play Sleeping Beauty back in Fifth grade?" Tomoyo asked, putting a finger to her chin.

"No, and before you say I chickened out, the play was rudely interrupted by the Light and Dark Cards. You can thank them for their timely appearance," Sakura huffed, crossing her arms.

"So you were willing to give Li your first kiss back then, even though you liked Mr. Tsukishiro?" Tomoyo teased as a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Wide-eyed, Sakura stared at Tomoyo in disbelief. The notion that the 'kiss scene' in Sleeping Beauty might be considered her first kiss with Li had never crossed her mind before.

"I never thought of it like that. I just wanted to do my best in the play," Sakura answered, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, if you ask me, I think Sakura made an awesome prince in that play," Kero chimed in, his face full of food.

"I can't agree more, Kero. Sakura really did make a great prince. On the other hand, Li could've tried harder to be a more convincing princess," Tomoyo commented, unimpressed by Syaoran's robotic acting skills.

"With all the different situations his mother puts him through and expects him to succeed, no questions asked, I'm very surprised he didn't try harder in the play."

"Don't blame the kid, Tomoyo. He was in a confusing place back then, and knowing that he was going to be kissed by someone he liked must have played on his mind a lot," Kero said, nodding towards Sakura.

"I still have both the costumes at home. I would love to film that scene once more, knowing there won't be any interruptions this time," Tomoyo said, spacing out at the thought of it. Sakura stared at her, flustered at the idea of recreating the kiss. Kero saw his chance to steal some of Sakura's food while she was distracted by Tomoyo.

Suddenly, Sakura's expression shifted from light-hearted to alarmed. Her eyes locked onto the window, and the room fell into a tense silence.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" Tomoyo asked, her voice laced with concern as she noticed her friend's sudden change.

Sakura's voice trembled slightly. "I thought I sensed an aura. I'm not sure who it belongs to, but it feels... unusual."

Tomoyo's curiosity piqued, she moved to the window, peering into the dimming twilight. "Hiiragizawa isn't lurking outside, is he?"

"No, it's not Eriol," Kero said, his tone serious. "But there is definitely something strange. The aura feels similar to Clow Reed's."

Sakura nodded, her unease growing. "Exactly. Whoever it is, their presence is very reminiscent of Clow Reed's."

A/N; (Edited 04/08/24)

Who does this new aura belong to? and if it isn't Eriol, or Clow Reed, then who is it?