Card Reviver Ayame

Episode Five: “Ayame’s Big Challenge”

By Minako134

 

 

Scene: A semi-busy street lined with shops on either side. A door from one of the shops opens, showing Ayame carrying three shopping bags.

 

Ayame: (calling to the shopkeeper) Thank you! (a reply comes from within, and she closes the door with some difficulty, trying to carry all the bags at once. She uses her foot to get her skateboard, which was leaning against the wall) I should have known the list was going to be so long…Tomoyo-san should get another maid.

 

(she kicks the skateboard onto the sidewalk, and pushes off, holding all the bags. She skates with little effort, and shifts her weight only slightly to avoid pedestrians)

 

Ayame: (narrating) Since today is the last day of vacation, Tomoyo-san wanted to use this last bit of extra time to help Himeko-chan get started making costumes for me. (bubble pops up with chibi-Ayame, who whines) I told her I don’t like wearing dresses, but she insisted…(back to narrating) Himeko-chan is so wonderful. She can draw, she’s smart, and she can make clothes even faster than Tomoyo-san! (she speaks out loud, blowing a mushroom) But WHY does she have to make me wear these weird costumes?!

 

(Suddenly, Ayame’s skateboard gets caught in a crack. In slow motion, Ayame opens her mouth in surprise while she continues forward, loosing grip of the shopping bags. An arm reaches out and grabs her middle, stopping her fall. Ayame falls backwards onto the arm, barely able to hold onto the bags’ handles. As time comes back to normal-speed, the man who caught Ayame stumbles to his knees under the weight of Ayame and her luggage. Ayame groans with annoyance)

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) That looked pretty stupid…

 

Man: Are you all right?

 

Ayame: (sits up, reaching for her bags) Yeah, thank-(looks up at his face) you…

 

Eriol: (smiles) Thank goodness. That couldn’t have been pretty ugly, huh?

 

Ayame: (off in dreamland, blushing, she stares at him non-stop) Uh-huh…

 

Eriol: (takes her arm) Let me help you up. Are your bags okay?

 

Ayame: (stands, still blushing and staring) Bags…

 

Eriol: Be careful next time, all right? You should always be prepared for anything.

 

Ayame: (still…) O…okay…

 

Scene: Himeko and Gal are in the living room, playing chess. Gal sits on the table before the board, and Himeko on the couch. Gal is furrowing her brow, concentrating very hard. Himeko puts her chin in her hands, looking somewhat bored. Most of the pieces on the board are white.

 

Himeko: Do you want to stop for lunch?

 

Gal: NO! It’s not over yet! (walks over to her brown king, and moves it one space away from Himeko’s white knight)

 

Himeko: (moves her white bishop) Checkmate.

 

Gal: (mouth wide open, moans and shrieks) No…!!

 

Himeko: Well, you have to admit, I am at least nine years older than you are.

 

Gal: (wings drooping) I suppose so…

 

(the doorbell buzzes, and Himeko jogs over to the intercom in the wall)

 

Himeko: Hello?

 

Ayame: (from outside) It’s me.

 

Himeko: I’ll let you in. (presses a button on the intercom)

 

Gal: That’s right, Ayame-chan went out for some fabric, didn’t she?

 

Himeko: Yes, Tomoyo-san wanted me to start up some of my own costumes for Ayame-chan. I’m feeling a little nervous, what with having to meet Tomoyo-san’s standard and all…

 

Gal: I have every confidence in you, Himeko-chan. (stands up, sucking in her gut) You shall make the most amazing and incredible costumes that the Clow has ever witnessed!!

 

Himeko: (sweatdrop) Thanks…

 

Gal: (nods respectfully) Not a problem.

 

(the door in the entrance hall opens, and Ayame walks in with a dazed look, holding the shopping bags)

 

Ayame: I’m home. (puts down the bags)

 

Himeko and Gal: Welcome back!

 

(Ayame walks slowly out of the hallway and to the living room, where she proceeds to the couch and sits down, still looking off into the distance)

 

Himeko: Ayame-chan…?

 

Gal: (frowns) She’s had a preconception. I can tell.

 

Ayame: Sssh. I’m trying to remember what he looked like.

 

Himeko: “Him?”

 

Gal: She must have seen what I saw before. Ayame-chan, what does he look like? What’s he doing?

 

Ayame: (looking at Gal, annoyed) I said, “Sssh”!! Some guy rescued me from falling off my skateboard, and I’m trying not to forget his face!!

 

Gal: (falls over on the floor) Wha…?!

 

Himeko: (smiling) I guess Ayame-chan ISN’T a complete tomboy…

 

Ayame: (blushing) I…I don’t get crushes on boys! Gal-chan, tell her! You know me!!

 

Gal: (still on the floor) I’ll stay out of teenage girls’ boy-fantasies, thank you…

 

Ayame: I’M DON”T HAVE ANY FANTASIES!!!

 

Himeko: (acting very giddy, she plops on the couch) Well, what’d he look like?!

 

Ayame: (blushing) Um…well, he had short hair, and he wore glasses. (mumbling) And his eyes looked very…kind…

 

Himeko: Oh, wow…!!

 

Gal: (sweatdrop) Right…

 

Tomoyo: (bouncing in, carrying lots of papers and sewing utensils) Hey, Ayame-chan!! You brought all the supplies like I asked?

 

Ayame: Yeah, I’ll go get them. (runs over to the door and retrieves the bags)

 

Gal: This quite a historical event. A sort of passing the baton, if you will.

 

Himeko: (slightly blushing) Come on, if I start thinking like that, I’ll get even more self-conscious about this whole thing.

 

Tomoyo: No worries, Himeko-chan. (lays out all the papers with various designs on them) Just come to me if you need help on anything.

 

Ayame: (plops the bags next to the coffee table with the papers on it) So, where do we start?

 

Tomoyo: Well, I already have your measurements, so it’s time to see Himeko-chan’s ideas!

 

Himeko: (blushing) Really…? But I hate showing my drawings…

 

Ayame: (encouraging, she holds her fists up) Come on, Himeko-chan! We’re your family! If you show your masterpieces to anyone, show us!

 

Himeko: All right…(shuffles through the papers, and takes out a drawing)…but I’m only showing you the finished one.

 

(Tomoyo, Ayame, and Gal lean in closer to see. It’s a pencil drawing of Ayame in a costume. It’s got a cape, boots, and a jewel holding the cape together in front. The strap around the cape and the boots are labeled “leather”, and the shirt and pants are labeled as “cloth”)

 

Tomoyo: Leather…

 

Himeko: (panicking) Is it bad? I knew it, it was a bad idea. None of the other Sakura costumes looked like this. I’m sorry, Tomoyo-san…

 

Tomoyo: (smiles) What are you talking about? This an Ayame-chan costume, not a Sakura-chan costume.

 

Himeko: (stares, then grins) Thanks.

 

Ayame: Hey, I love it! And I don’t have to wear a skirt or dress!!

 

Gal: Exquisite artistry. Well done, Himeko-chan.

 

Himeko: (embarrassed but pleased) Thank you, everyone.

 

Scene: A semi-large house amongst several trees of varying heights. The front door opens, and Itaru exits, walking down the pathway and onto the sidewalk. He’s wearing a green t-shirt and khaki shorts.

 

Itaru: (whines to himself, sighing) Maaaan…I’ve spent the entire break by myself!! What’s Ayame-chan been doing anyway? (holds up a fist) Right! I’ll just have to be the good person and invite myself over!!

 

(he continues walking along the sidewalk)

 

Scene: Ayame, alone in the living room, pushes a “Sakura-chan Memorial” tape into the VCR. She walks back to the couch, where she sits and presses ‘play’ on her remote. The screen blinks on, and we see Sakura walking through the school halls at night with Li, who is in his battle costume. Kero is also there. The camera is moving slightly up and down as they walk, so we assume that Tomoyo is holding the camera.

 

Sakura: It’s scary…

 

Kero: (mocking) Here we go again…Sakura’s fear of ghosts…

 

Sakura: (sweatdrop) B-but…

 

Li: Don’t worry. I can’t feel any spiritual ki here. Only magical ki.

 

Sakura: Really? (sighs) Thanks, Syaolan-kun.

 

Tomoyo: (off camera) Syaolan-kun…? (Li’s face goes bright red)

 

Sakura: (grins) Yeah, from that elevator incident. Syaolan-kun said I could call him that, and he can call me “Sakura”.

 

Tomoyo: Really?

 

(Ayame pauses the screen, so we see Sakura smiling at a blushing Li)

 

Ayame: (with a sad face) Li-san…

 

Himeko: (enters hurriedly) Ayame-chan! We finished your costume! (she notices Ayame’s state) Eh…? Ayame-chan?

 

Ayame: Sakura…and Li-san…(she stands up abruptly, and runs for the door)

 

Himeko: Ayame-chan…?!

 

(Ayame slips on her shoes and goes outside, where she grabs her skateboard and runs down the driveway. After leaving the gate and reaching the sidewalk, she begins to skate as hard as she can. In her rush, she skates past Itaru)

 

Itaru: Whoa!! Ayame-chan?! (yells after her) Wait!!

 

(Ayame continues to skateboard down the sidewalk. She stares straight ahead, looking angry and confused)

 

Ayame: (thinking to herself) Why…? Why…?! He never told me…Sakura was his wife…his WIFE…

 

(she arrives at the gate to Li’s house, and throws her skateboard aside. She slams the gate open and runs to the door, where she proceeds to bang on the door four times)

 

Ayame: Li-san! Li-saaan!!! Sakura was your...

 

Li: (opens the door) What’s wrong?!

 

(Ayame stands there, looking up at him with anger, breathing heavily from skating so hard. Li looks down at her, studying her)

 

Ayame: (drops her voice) May I come inside?

 

Li: (after a pause) Yes.

 

Scene: Li and Ayame are sitting in the two armchairs in front of the unlit fireplace. Ayame sits, pushing her hands onto her knees with her elbows locked, and Li pours hot tea for her.

 

Li: (sits back with his cup) You found out?

 

Ayame: Why didn’t you tell me?

 

Li: It wasn’t important.

 

Ayame: All these years, you’ve been living alone…all because someone…killed Sakura…

 

Li: (sips his tea, and puts it down) It’s true. I married that person just before the incident. Daidouji was there, among others.

 

Ayame: (looks at him, tears forming at her eyes) I’m sor-

 

Li: (interrupts) Don’t. It can’t be helped.

 

Ayame: I promise, I’m going to do everything in my power to find out who did it…

 

Li: (sternly) Did you here what I just said? There’s nothing you can do. You can try and bring the Cards back, but it will not bring her back.

 

Ayame: (taken aback) Li…san…

 

Scene: Itaru and Himeko are conversing in the kitchen. The front door opens and closes, and Ayame enters, head down.

 

Itaru: Ayame-chan…

 

Himeko: Ayame-chan! (goes to her, putting her hands on her shoulders) Are you all right? Where did you go?

 

Ayame: (undertone) I’m sorry for worrying you. But…

 

Himeko: What is it?

 

Ayame: Li-san…was Sakura’s husband…

 

Himeko: (somewhat shocked) Really?

 

Itaru: Eh?! What are you talking about? Who’s Sakura?!

 

Ayame: Just shut up, Itaru-kun.

 

Itaru: (mad, he lands his hand on the table) No! You’ve been spending all of your break having fun with “Gal-chan” and whoever else, and I’ve been as bored as anything! Are you going to tell me what you’ve been hiding, or what?!

 

(Ayame looks up, worn out and sad. We can see lines on her face where there were tears. Itaru stops)

 

Itaru: Uh…(sighs) Fine, fine. It looks like you could use a break.

 

Himeko: Itaru-kun…?

 

Itaru: (holds up first finger proudly) I’ve got just the thing!!

 

(scene cuts)

 

Itaru: VIDEO GAME TIME!!!

 

(Itaru, Ayame and Himeko are sitting in front of a TV, all holding game controllers. Ayame looks very unexcited, but Himeko is very chipper, examining her controller)

 

Himeko: This is so cool! I’ve never actually played a real video game before!

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) You’re not missing much. This is ALL we do at Itaru-kun’s house.

 

Itaru: Shush! The race is about to start!! I need to concentrate!!

 

Ayame: (somewhat annoyed) Calm down, you’re making such a big deal…

 

Itaru: (as the game starts) GO!!!

 

Ayame: (racing her car down the road on the screen, she smiles and thinks to herself) Still…it’s good to be with Himeko-chan and Itaru-kun…

 

Scene: A large hallway, so dark that the sealing is not visible. Footsteps echo through the corridor, as Mab makes her way through the bleak area. She nears some double doors on her right, and grasps the handle to one door. After grunting and growing her weight back to open the heavy door, it opens, and a light green and blue light spills over her. She enters, and shoves the door shut. She looks around the room. There are several tables, all covered with various scientific instruments, jars, maps and blue prints. Mab approaches one of the tables and picks up one of the blueprints, which has drawings of a female figure on it.

 

Davi: Mab-chan.

 

Mab: (startles, and throws the print back on the table, making a rustling sound. She whips around, and sees a tall man in a large cape standing a ways from her) Davi-sama. Sorry...

 

Davi: No worries. I'd be more worried about the fact that you're here, snooping around...instead of out there, doing what I told you to do.

 

Mab: About that. I wanted to ask you permission...I need an extra boost. My creatures aren't fairing well.

 

Davi: That does not matter. All you need to do is cause situations for Suzuki Ayame to revive the Cards.

 

Mab: I know, Davi-sama. But, my creatures could use a break. They don’t like being in this realm for too long.

 

Davi: What do you want from me?

 

Mab: Can you give me something… big?

 

Scene: Close-up of Itaru grinning.

 

Itaru: Hee hee…looks like it’s another win for… I! TA! RUUUU~! (holds up index finger)

 

Himeko: (she and Ayame are staring pathetically at the TV screen while Itaru does his victory dance around the room) Wow…

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) The kid mustn’t have much to do without me…

 

Itaru: Ha-HAA!! YES! How’d you like THAT?!

 

Ayame: (bored, blows a mushroom) Otaku…

 

Himeko: Ah! Ayame-chan, I just remembered, I haven’t finished your next battle costume yet.

 

Ayame: (she and Itaru freeze) Eek.

 

Itaru (glasses gleaming white) Battle…costume…?

 

Ayame: Eh…heh…

 

Itaru: It couldn’t be…(staring at Ayame, pointing shakily) Ayame-chan…

 

Ayame: Uh…uh, what? Heh heh…

 

Itaru: You…ARE FINALLY GETTING INTO ROLE-PLAYING…!!

 

Himeko and Ayame: (fall over with feet sticking in the air) Eh…

 

Itaru: That’s awesome!! What game?! And Himeko-chan! I didn’t know you made costumes for your RPGs!! HEY! Can I join you?!?!

 

Himeko: Actually…(Ayame clamps her hand over Himeko’s mouth)

 

Ayame: (making it up as she goes) Yeah, yeah! I’m just, so…inspired! Yeah! By your hobby…yeah…

 

Itaru: Cooool!! Can I see?!

 

Himeko: Um, um…(panicking)

 

Ayame: (sighs) Sure, sure…

 

Scene: The light is going down outside. Amongst several tall trees is an area with one lit lamp post next to a park bench, along side a small stream. A small wooden bridge crosses the stream. Everything is quiet for a bit, and then we see a couple walking and talking quietly to each other, walking across the bridge. They stop in the middle of the bridge and look over the edge, smiling at their reflections in the water. Suddenly, a dark shape whooshes over them, blocking out their reflections for an instant, then vanishes. They startle, and turn up to the sky, but see nothing.

 

Woman: (grabbing the man’s arm, looking up still) Wh…what…

 

Man: (unsure) …Maybe it was a bird?

 

(a loud and deep sound comes from the trees to their right, and the jolt in surprise. The trees rustle a bit, then still)

 

Man: I think we should leave.

 

Woman: That’s a good idea.

 

(they slowly edge off the bridge, staring at the trees, then break out into a jog, without a peep. The camera zooms into the trees. Past the trunks and branches, we see the outline of an enormous creature with slanted eyes)

 

Scene: Kiana is doing laundry in the basement of the Daidouji house. She starts loading the washer with various shirts, pants and skirts. She stops when she sees several strange-looking costume parts to put in the laundry. She holds up Ayame’s purple-cape costume.

 

Kiana: (puzzled) What is this…? (sighs) Ojou-sama sure is the creative designer…I wonder what she’ll think of next…she might even make a pink school outfit for Ayame-chan, if given the chance…

 

(scene cuts to Itaru energetically looking through all of Himeko’s costume designs in the living room, sitting at the couch next to a slightly distressed and embarrassed Himeko)

 

Himeko: (stressing out) D-do you have to look at…ALL of them…?!

 

Itaru: Oh, COOL! This one reminds me of that one heroine from a game I was playing recently…interesting style, it’s definitely for a girl’s game, and you draw her in very strong poses…

 

Ayame: (from off-camera) HEY! What do ya mean, a GIRL’S game?!

 

Itaru: (freezes, slightly cringing from fright) Er…hey! Come out so we can see you, Ayame-chan!

 

Ayame: Sure, sure…(comes out, and the camera shows her, panning from bottom to top)…I have to admit Himeko, you did a great job of making this leather so flexible.

 

(the costume has the basic cape and bonnet look of some of Sakura’s costumes. The boots and gloves, which match, are brown leather and have a simple gold pattern on them. The pants are made of the same material, as is the cape and the main portion of the bonnet, and a sort of belt that goes loosely around Ayame’s shoulders and secures in the front with a jewel and two flaps, holding the cape together. The long-sleeved shirt underneath is beige, as is the inside of the cape. The bonnet has a jewel that matches the one attached to the cape, with gold trimming similar to on the gloves and boots)

 

Himeko: (grins, while Itaru gets up form the couch, staring happily) I’m so glad it fits!

 

Ayame: Okay okay, you got to see it, now can I change back…? (thinks to herself) Gal-chan is gonna freak…

 

Itaru: Eh? (spots Ayame’s key hanging from her neck, he runs over and takes a closer look) What’s that?

 

Ayame: (no longer worried; rather, annoyed) It’s my magical key.

 

Itaru: Why is it pink and have little puffy wings on it?

 

Ayame: (sprouts an anger vein, clenching her teeth) Be-CAUSE.

 

Itaru: (sweatdrop) Uh… alrighty then.

 

Scene: Li is walking down the street towards the Daidouji house. He stops next to the large gate and presses the intercom button. Inside, we hear the buzzer.

 

Himeko: Be right there! (goes over and picks up the phone) Yes?

 

Li: This is Li. May I come in and speak with Suzuki?

 

Himeko: Li-sa-…(looks at Ayame unsure) …maybe…

 

Ayame: (turns away and goes to the stairs) I’m not here.

 

Itaru: (frowns, walks to Ayame) Wait…!

 

Himeko: (into the phone) Just a moment, please. (calling to Ayame) Ayame-chan, it wouldn’t hurt!

 

Ayame: (she stops and pauses, and then turns back angry) How can he expect me to be fine with this?!

 

Himeko: (holding the receiver) But Ayame-chan…

 

Ayame: He’ll have to wait a little longer than that if he wants me to just put it aside. (tears come) He…hates me…

 

Itaru: (places a hand on Ayame’s shoulder) Ayame-chan. (she doesn’t move, but sniffs) I’m not sure what happened, or why it’s making you so upset…but I think you owe it to him to say he’s sorry.

 

Ayame: I’m just…so out of touch with everything…I couldn’t see…

 

Itaru: Ayame-chan…(turns her towards him) You’ll be all right. You’ve always been stronger than me. (grins) Prove it to me again!

 

Ayame: (looks at Itaru, seeing a wise, faithful friend…she smiles) I will.

 

Itaru: (smiles, blushing slightly) Good!

 

Scene: Li is waiting outside still

 

Li: (sweatdrop) Are they still debating…? (his cellphone rings the tune “Ki Ni Naru Aitsu”, Li’s image song from the original series; he retrieves it from his coat pocket and presses the talk button) Hello?

 

Man: I thought you’d like to know, there is a monster loose at the park. I tried calling Ayame-san, but the line was busy.

 

Li: (eyes widen) Hiiragizawa…?!

 

(Ayame opens the front door, her battle costume still on. She takes two steps, and notices the gate; Li isn’t there)

 

Ayame: Li-san..? (suddenly, she senses something and looks up) What …there’s another monster…?

 

Itaru: (comes through the door) Eh? Where’d he go? (he notices Ayame chanting under her breath) Wha…what’re you muttering, Ayame-chan?

 

Ayame: (whips out a card) SLEEP! (the little green fairy flies over Itaru, and he collapses in sleep. Ayame catches him gently, smiling at him) Thank you for today, Itaru-kun…

 

Himeko: (comes through the door with Gal) Gal-chan sensed something! (sees Itaru) Oh…

 

Ayame: Could you carry him inside? We don’t have much time. I think Li-san went off to get the monster himself.

 

Himeko: (nods) Okay!

 

Scene: Li is running through a dark pathway in the park, his sword out and ready.

 

Li: (thinking to himself as he dashes through the forest) Hiiragizawa…why did you come? Why NOW? (he reaches the clearing where the couple was before, and stops before the bridge. He stays still and listens hard, moving his eyes slowly over all the foliage)

 

Mab: (far above the clearing, high in the night star-less sky, she sits atop her dragonfly ride, watching Li) You’ve come alone? Where’s that girl? (flicks hair) Hmmphf. Well, might as well kill you before she shows up. Maybe she’ll fight harder.

 

(on the ground, Li hears rustling deep in the trees ahead of him. He grabs his sword with both hands and stands ready to fight. The noise grows louder and louder, and we see shadows of trees swish and move aside as an enormous creature makes its way to the clearing)

 

Li: Dang…this one will be difficult…

 

(the rustling stops suddenly. Li doesn’t blink or move.)

 

Li: (grins) Come on.

 

(in a burst of rage, the enormous shape blasts out form above the trees and flies up 5o feet into the air, too high to see what it is. It flies past the full moon, and we see the silhouette of…)

 

Li: (raises an eyebrow) A dragon…?

 

(the dragon seems to hang motionless in air…before it takes a sudden nose dive and plummets towards the ground, pointing his sharp beak-like nose at Li. Li swings his arm back with the sword, poised to strike)

 

Ayame: (close-up of her mouth speaking) SHIELD!

 

(at the last second before the dragon’s opened mouth meets Li, a transparent barrier appears and the dragons slams into it, his momentum carrying him over Li and tumbling and thudding across the clearing, and comes to a stop 30 feet away)

 

Li: Suzuki!

 

(Ayame flies in on her wand, Himeko holding to the wand as well, below Ayame. Gal-chan flies in between the dragon and Li, watching the dragon’s motionless figure)

 

Ayame: Li-san! Are you okay?

 

Li: (groans) Why…WHY did you come?

 

Ayame: (grins) Because I seem to be a lot smarter than you.

 

Li: (sweatdrop) Eh?

 

Ayame: (grabs wand, watching the dragon) Come on, Li-san. Two against one are some really nice odds.

 

Li: You don’t understand, do you…you are a child! You will only endanger yourself!

 

Ayame: (silent, looking down; we can’t see her face) Li-san…

 

Himeko: Ayame-chan…

 

Ayame: (looks up at him, with a very kind smile) I’m sorry, Li-san. (he narrows his eyebrows) I have to do my best. Now, more than ever.

 

Gal: Ayame-chan!!

 

(Ayame swerves around just in time to see the dragon lift its tall neck into the air and make a huge, deafening roar)

 

Ayame: Gal-chan, get Himeko-chan to a safe place!

 

Gal: Right away! (heads to some bushes on the outskirts of the clearing with Himeko, who holds her sketchbook, trying to watch as the scene unfolds)

 

Ayame: (takes out a card, and throws it up high into the air) FREEZE!!

 

(a wave of icy blue spreads from the card and zooms towards the dragon. The dragon rears its head back, and then lets loose a huge gust of flame at the wind, which has scattered and powerless)

 

Ayame: (clenches her teeth) Dang…

 

Li: It’s no use!! This dragon is much more powerful than the other creatures! You must leave!

 

Ayame: (takes the Freeze card from the air, and puts it away) I still have something I wanna try…

 

(the dragon flaps its wings, awkwardly getting to its feet, ad puffing plums of smoke from its nostrils)

 

Li: It’s coming!

 

Ayame: Gotcha! (she activates another card) Protect me, SHIELD! (she takes off with Fly, heading straight at the dragon full-speed)

 

Li: What are you doing?!

 

Himeko: Hey! I believe she’s going to try ramming the dragon using Shield! Nice strategy!

 

Gal: Maybe…

 

(Ayame closes in on the dragon fast, and the dragon watches her intently)

 

Ayame: Here I COME…! (the spherical shield around Ayame shines brightly, and begins to look like a comet…as it comes hurtling toward its target, the dragon swishes its tail around…and swats at the shield carrying Ayame, sending her flying high up in the air)

 

Li: Jeez…

 

Gal: (sweatdrop) Ayame-chan…Shield is a defensive card, not offencive…

 

Ayame: (holding onto Fly with one hand, looking very dazed) Whoa…

 

Himeko: (shouting up to Ayame) Ayame-chan, are there any other cards that are stronger?

 

Ayame: (rights herself, flying properly) Perhaps…(thinking to herself) But, in the videos, Sakura always had trouble with controlling the elemental cards…can I…?

 

(the dragon flaps its enormous wings with slow powerful motions, and begins to take off into the sky. Li sees this and takes the opportunity to run forward and grasp the end of the dragon’s tale is it soars into the sky)

 

Himeko: Li-san?!

 

Gal: Is he crazy?

 

(Li wraps his sword’s ropes around one arm, and starts climbing up the thick scaly tail. Ayame flies, trying to keep a distance from the dragon)

 

Ayame: (noticing the dragon’s passenger) Li-san!! What are you doing?!

 

(the dragon realizes its burden, and grunts in annoyance. Li stops climbing just in time to grasp to one wing as the dragon begins to do a series of flips and rolls in attempt to buck him off)

 

Gal: (angrily) Stay here, Himeko-chan. (flies up to the dragon, trying to get to Li amongst the flailing wings and claws) Oi! Li-san, how do you expect Ayame-chan to beat this thing…(dodges a toothy mouth)…if she can’t even attack it without harming you?!

 

Li: Suzuki…should mind her own business!!

 

(he grasps his legs around the dragon’s neck, and whips out his sword, throwing out a talisman)

 

Li: God of Thunder, desce-(he’s cut out as the dragon takes advantage of his vulnerability, and bucks him off with one giant thrust)

 

Ayame: LI-SAN!!

 

(Li begins to fall through the air, knocked half-unconscious)

 

Li: (thinking as he falls head first toward the ground below) No one loved Sakura…more than me…(he opens his eyes, and sees Sakura floating above him, smiling, and stretching out a hand to him. He reaches for her hand) Sakura…

 

(he’s jerked awake as Ayame soars by and grabs him by the hand, flying away from the dragon)

 

Ayame: Don’t worry, I’ll get you to the ground in no time!

 

Li: (eyes wide) Suzuki…

 

Ayame: (grins) And you think I’m childish. (she drops him next to the ground, and immediately turns back up to the dragon; she stares angrily) You will pay for that!!

 

Gal: Whatever you do, do it NOW!!

 

Ayame: (concentrates, thinking) I’ll give it my all. Sakura did. (she throws out two cards, and begans chanting as they revolve in the air) O card sealed by Sakura…awaken from thy sleep and be revived…in the name of Ayame, thy new mistress. (the cards still, and each explodes with smoke; a mix of blue and bright red spews out, rushing at the dragon) WATERY! FIREY!

 

Gal: Wh-WHAT?!

 

Li: Impossible…two high-ranking cards at once…?!

 

(the two forms circle around the dragon as it roars and slashes at them; its claws go right through the mix of elements. The dragon rears its head back and then lets loose a blast of fire; Watery douses the flame immediately. The two cards circle faster and faster, intertwining the flying giant, and it begins to fall to the earth)

 

Ayame: (flies to Li and covers him) WATCH OUT!

 

(the dragon looks like its on a course right for the patch of land the Li and Ayame are on. Ayame covers Li, and Shield gleams over them)

 

Li: (face up, sees the form falling towards them, he thinks to himself, and smiles) Sakura…I’ll do it for you. (he sits up part way, with Ayame still on his chest, and takes his sword in hand)

 

Ayame: (feels him move) Eh…?

 

Li: God of Wind, descend! (the talisman in his other hand gusts forth a wind that flies up and around the dragon, slowing its fall, and moving it to the side. The dragon falls softly on the ground next to Li and Sakura, motionless. Ayame holds out her hand, and Watery and Firey return to their new card state as she catches them)

 

Gal-chan: (flies to Ayame) Impressive, Ayame-chan.

 

Ayame: (stares at Li) Li-san…

 

Li: (smiles) Thank you, Ayame-chan.

 

Ayame: (blushes) Oh…(smiles) It’s nothing…

 

Li: (notices the dragon) There it goes…

 

(the dragon’s form glows white, and then is zapped out like a streak of light into the sky)

 

Himeko: (runs over to Li and Ayame) This is GREAT! I got all sorts of sketches of your costume!

 

Ayame: (sweatdrop) Eh? What about me…?

 

(suddenly, we can hears someone clapping and coming through the bushes. The group freezes and stares)

 

Himeko: (whispers) Uh…should you hide, Gal-chan…?

 

Ayame: (panics) Oh crud, my costume…what am I gonna…

 

Gal: Wait…Clow…?

 

Li: (frowns) No…

 

(the form comes forth, and a man steps forward)

 

Man: (claps, smiling) Excellent work Ayame-chan. (glances at Li) And excellent deduction, my old friend.

 

Ayame: (blushes) EH?! You…this morning…

 

Eriol: (bows) It’s nice to meet you. My name is Hiiragizawa Eriol.

 

Scene: A tall man in robes stands in front of a tall long case, watching at the contents within. The case glows with an orange light, and we can see a person is inside, still as sleep in the tank of liquid.

 

Mab: (appears behind him from the darkness) Davi-sama…

 

Davi: (startled) Mab-chan.

 

Mab: She has revived two more cards. It was successful.

 

Davi: …Good. Leave me.

 

Mab: (bows, and returns into the darkness)

 

Davi: (puts his gloves hand on the glass of the glowing case) My dear…my beloved…