Hello, everyone! This is a crossover between Rurouni Kenshin and Cardcaptor Sakura. I know this is an odd combination. I once had a dream in which Kenshin traveled as a rurouni with Sakura as his little sister and this story was born. To make things easier for newcomers to the two series, I have added explanations about the characters and their world (and made a dictionary of terms at the end as well). People familiar with the series can just skip over it. This story is rated Teen mostly for violence and Sano might make a couple of vague references to Kenshin and Kaoru being alone. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Rurouni Kenshin or Cardcaptor characters.

PROLOGUE

Normally Kinomoto Sakura didn't have that much trouble waking up. Today, however, was an exception. She was generally a cheerful girl and full of life, but she didn't want to wake and face the day.

Kero, the magical beast guardian of the Clow Cards and Sakura's friend, flew by Sakura's head when she didn't stop the alarm clock. "Oi. Sakura. Are ya all right? Do ya have a fever? You've been acting weird since yesterday."

Syaoran-kun always is worried about me, Sakura thought, but she pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about her relationship with Syaoran or how he felt about wanting to worry Kero further, Sakura summoned the will to get up out of bed. "I'm fine," Sakura answered in a monotone voice. She shuffled her feet to the closet where she would obtain her school uniform. Why is it always a school night whenever I have to capture Clow Cards?

Experiencing such conflicting feelings, Sakura felt it was best to review the basics. I am Kinomoto Sakura, a fifth grader at Tomoeda Elementary. Last year I opened a strange book I found in my basement. I didn't know that opening the Clow Book would cause all the Clow Cards that were sealed inside to become free and cause all sorts of problems for people. But I did get to meet and befriend their guardian, Kero-chan!

Kero watched Sakura move lethargically. "You don't look find to me…"

Kero was a small yellow flying beast. He had adorable rounded ears and a tail like a mouse. And know that I think about it, he isn't that much bigger than a large rat. Of course, he's supposed to be like a lion, not a mouse or rat. As the magical guardian of the Clow Cards, it was Kero's duty to help control the Clow Cards. Clow Cards were magical cards that were named after and controlled different aspects of the environment, like Earthy, Shadow, and Sword Clow Cards. Both Kero and the Clow Cards were created by Clow Reed, the most powerful magician of all time. That is, until Sakura became the Cardcaptor and captured all the Clow Cards, bringing them under her power. Now that Sakura could control all of the Clow Cards, she was the mightiest magician in history. Being a Cardcaptor meant Sakura had borne the responsibility of capturing all of the rampaging Clow Cards through her magic and with help of Kero.

After changing for school, Sakura walked down the stairs into the kitchen, where her older brother, Tōya, and her father were making breakfast. At least I don't have any chores to do today, Sakura thought, but even that couldn't bring make her smile.

"Hey, monster," Tōya teased. "You look more like a monster than usual today. Did you crawl out of the closet instead of from under the bed this morning?" Tōya was a junior in high school, whose main hobby seemed to be calling Sakura a monster.

Syaoran-kun used to call me clumsy but I don't think he was teasing like Tōya does. Sakura, although inwardly annoyed, ignored her brother and ate the food placed at her seat on the table. She didn't even know what she was eating. All she could think of was the cakes she and Syaoran had made during home ec class at school. She glanced at the picture of her late mother sitting at the end of the table. I wish you were alive so you can tell me what to do about Syaoran-kun…

Once she was finished eating and cleared her dishes, Sakura sat by the door, putting on her roller skates. Her father came up behind her, "Sakura-san? If you're sick you can stay home. I don't want you to go to school if you're not feeling well."

Sakura paused. "I'm fine. I'm going to school." Standing up, Sakura turned around and gave her father her best reassuring smile. "And you're going to be late to go teach archeology at the university if you don't hurry."

Sakura's father glanced at his watch. "Oh! You're right! Have a fun day at school, Sakura-san!"

Guilty, Sakura observed her father dash down the hallway. He's just watching over me like he has always done since Mom died so many years ago… And here she was pushing him away.

Though her father had left already, Sakura whispered goodbye and walked out the door, heading for school. Before homeroom started, Sakura sat at her desk, staring at the ceiling, when Daidouji Tomoyo, her best friend since childhood entered. She knew about Sakura's secret life as a Cardcaptor and, though she had no magic of her own, Tomoyo had helped Sakura capture Clow Cards countless time.

"Ohayō, Sakura-chan." Sakura didn't answer Tomoyo. "Sakura-chan?" Confused, Tomoyo waved her hand in front of Sakura's face. "Sakura-chan? Sakura-chan!"

"Eh? Oh, good morning, Tomoyo-chan." Sakura continued to stare at the ceiling.

Behind them, the door the classroom opened. Syaoran walked to the desk, behind Sakura's desk and placed his school bag on the desk.

"Oh, Ohayō, Li-kun," chirped Tomoyo.

"'Morning." Upon hearing Syaoran's voice, Sakura froze. Before she could stop it, visions of yesterday flooded her mind.

"…O-Ohayō," Syaoran said again, but this time to Sakura, breaking her reverie.

"…Ohayō," replied Sakura, turning her head only a little to the side. Her face was far too red to show Syaoran and Tomoyo. Thankfully at that moment her teacher entered the classroom, telling everyone to get to their seats.

Like Tomoyo, Syaoran knew that Sakura was the Cardcaptor and helped her capture the cards. Li Syaoran was the youngest descendant of a long line of magicians in Hong Kong, China. When his family learned that the Clow Cards had been unsealed, Syaoran, the best magician in the family, traveled to Japan, hoping to become the Cardcaptor. Much to his dismay, Sakura had already taken the title when she unsealed the cards. This caused a great rivalry between the two as they competed to capture the Clow Cards. However, over time they became friends. And then yesterday, he told me… he told me… Sakura shook her head, banishing the memory.

Sakura spent her day at school lost in thought, thinking of everything and nothing at the same time, unintentionally ignoring her friends. Once school was finished, Sakura returned home and shut herself in her room, hoping that her homework would serve as a good distraction. But all she could do was stare at the blank math worksheet, unable to even pick up her pencil.

Kero flew protectively by Sakura's head. "Sakura, what's wrong? Please tell me. It's that brat, Syaoran, isn't it? Need me ta teach him a lesson?"

At the sound of Syaoran's name, Sakura flinched. "No, Kero-chan. I'm fine. S-S-Syaoran-kun is fine, too."

"Yeah, I bet you think he is," Kero muttered. "That's the problem."

The phone rang and, ever the dutiful daughter, Sakura ran downstairs to answer it. "Hai. Kinomoto residence."

"Sakura-chan?"

"Oh, Tomoyo-chan. What's wrong? I thought you were in the choir's concert today-"

"I heard from Terada-san who came to cheer for us. Apparently, Li-kun is going back to Hong Kong on the 11 o'clock flight today! He said that Li-kun will not be returning to Tomoeda Elementary anymore. Sakura-chan, can you hear me? Sakura chan… Sakura-chan?"

Sakura froze, her heart stopping. As though she was a robot without feeling, she hung up the phone and trudged up to her room. Ignoring Kero's pleas, Sakura spied the Clow Book that held all of the captured Clow Cards, now Sakura Cards. On an impulse, Sakura nabbed the Clow Book and ran out of her room.

"Sakura!" Kero cried behind her. Risking being discovered by Tōya and Sakura's father, Kero flew out of room, following Sakura.

Sakura quickly put on her roller skates and flung out of the house. She skated harder than she had in her entire life towards the place that kept appearing in her mind all day long. Tokyo Tower.

The place where Syaoran confessed his love for Sakura yesterday.

When she finally arrived, Sakura bent over, placing her free hand on her knee, and panted heavily.

"Li-kun is going back to Hong Kong on the 11 o'clock flight today!"

No… Sakura sunk to her knees, tears filling up in her eyes. The Clow Book tumbled out of her hands and onto the ground. "Syaoran-kun is going back… That can't be… I don't want that to happen! I mean, Syaoran-kun is…" A single tear fell from her eye and hit the book containing the Clow Cards.

"Sakura…?" Kero asked tentatively behind Sakura.

All of a sudden the magical circle that always appeared below her feet when she used a card shone on the ground. To Sakura's astonishment, a Sakura Card appeared, but it was different than any other Clow or Sakura Card that Sakura had ever seen. Sakura grasped the floating card and examined it. It had no name, but the picture was enough.

A heart with wings.

Sakura held it to her chest, smiling for the first time the entire day. "Syaoran-kun…" At long last, her heart found the courage to tell Syaoran her feelings.

"Whoa, Sakura, what's that?" Kero asked, flying over her shoulder to get a better look at the new card. "Did ya just make that card from yer own power? I'm impressed! But what is it?"

Sakura opened her mouth to answer, when the Clow Book flipped open, tearing through the pages. "Hoe?!" Sakura exclaimed, afraid. Never had the Clow Book ever responded to anything except when she undid the seal on the Clow Cards. Blue light poured from the book, enveloping Sakura and Kero in an otherworldly glow. A black hole materialized beneath Sakura's feet, causing her to sink.

"Sakura! This is magic! And it's-it's pulling us in!"

"No!" Sakura cried, "I have tell Syaoran-kun!" But neither of their protests had any effect. As the hole continued to suck them in, Sakura screamed.

"SYAORAAAAAAANN-KUUUUUUNNNN!"

Japanese and Cardcaptor Terms (in order they appear within chapter):

Kinomoto Sakura-Sakura is a fifth grader at Tomoeda Elementary and is eleven years old. Ever since she opened the Clow Book in her basement and released the Clow Cards into the world she became the Cardcaptor and, with help from Kero, Tomoyo, and Syaoran, captures the Clow Cards using magic. In her battles with the Clow Cards, Sakura uses other previously captured Clow Cards to fight the rampaging Clow Cards as well as her magic wand.

Kero-Kero's full name is Cerberus or Kerberos (depending on translation). He is one of the two magical guardians of the Clow Cards. He draws power from the sun. When Sakura has captured the Earthy and Fiery Clow Cards, he can transform into a large beast that resembles a lion with wings that can spit out fire. Because Sakura is the Cardcaptor, she is his master, however they are friends first and foremost. He speaks in a Kansai accent, which I tried to replicate in English. The other guardian is Yue, but he does not appear in the story.

Clow Cards-Clow Cards are cards that contain magic. They represent and control different aspects of the environment. For example, the Sword Card is a sword. The Windy Card is a green female spirit that can control the winds. A long time ago they were created by Clow Reed, the most powerful magician of all time before Sakura had captured all of the cards and transformed them into Sakura Cards. The Clow Cards were released from the Clow Book when Sakura opened the Clow Book. They began to cause all sorts of havoc that Sakura had to put an end to.

Oi-hey

Tomoeda-the fictional setting of Cardcaptor Sakura. It is near the city of Tokyo.

Clow Book-the book that contains all of the Clow Cards. Until Sakura opened it, it acted as a seal on the cards. Even though Sakura opened the book and released the seal, she still has the book in her possession and uses it to hold the Clow Cards. Through magic, Sakura can summon any Clow Cards at any time, despite them being within the book.

Cardcaptor-Sakura is the Cardcaptor, meaning that it is her responsibility to recapture the freed Clow Cards and become their master.

Clow Reed-He was the greatest magician of all of history until Sakura captured all of the Clow Cards and turned them into Sakura Cards. He created the Clow Cards, Clow Book, Kero and Yue. He lived and died long before Sakura was born.

Tōya-Tōya is Sakura's biological older brother from the present. He often teases Sakura, calling her a monster for stomping around the house. Tōya is known for getting a lot of part time jobs and volunteering. Throughout the manga/anime, Tōya often had jobs/volunteered at the places Sakura was visiting or capturing Clow Cards. This occurs so often that it is hypothesized that Tōya uses these jobs to watch over Sakura.

Sakura's father-Sakura's father is a kind man whose wife died when Sakura was very young. He is an archaeologist and teaches at a university. Between being busy because of his job and his Type B personality, he is very lax about creating rules and upholding them within the household. In other words, Tōya and Sakura are allowed to do whatever they want as long as they complete their chores.

Li Syaoran-Syaoran is eleven-years-old boy from Hong Kong. He is the youngest member of the Li family, a magical family that can trace its history all the way back to Clow Reed. In the begining of the anime/manga Syaoran's arrogance caused a competition of sorts between him and Sakura to capture Clow Cards, however, as the series progressed, Syaoran began to respect and then love Sakura. While Syaoran has magic of his own and can use the Clow Cards he helped capture, because Syaoran is not the Cardcaptor, he cannot seal Clow Cards through his own power.

Ohayō-good morning

Terada-Sakura, Tomoyo, and Syaoran's teacher.

Sakura Cards-After Sakura captured all of the Clow Cards, she transformed them into Sakura Cards. There is little difference between a Clow Card and a Sakura Card, but Sakura Cards only answer to Sakura, not Clow Reed or anyone else.

Hoe-is a made up word that is Sakura's trademark. She uses it when confused, embarrassed, or surprised. As far as I know it has no meaning other than conveying Sakura's feelings.

I know this beginning was pretty much the ending of the Cardcaptor anime and manga, but I wanted to establish that this story occurs after the events of the Cardcaptor series, but Sakura never got the chance to tell Syaoran about her feelings. A prologue was the best choice to do so, and it ended up being very similar to original source. It has been a while since I have seen the anime or read the manga, so if I have messed up Kero's accent or anything else, please tell me so I can fix it.

I will tell you more about what to expect in this story in the next chapter that I will post in a couple of days or so. Thanks for reading!

Next Chapter: Kenshin! Kaoru! Meiji Era! Let's go!